Funeral directors’ barrows to bring back ancient tradition
A FIRM of undertakers has had plans approved to bring back a “very unique and timeless” ritual once carried out by our ancient ancestors.
Nottingham-based funeral directors AW Lymn will soon bring one of Britain’s oldest funeral traditions back to the East Midlands by creating what they say are the region’s first and only modern burial mounds.
In these prehistoric burial sites, primarily used in the New Stone Age and Early Bronze Age, bodies were placed in stone or wooden vaults before large mounds of soil were heaped on top – but in the new version ashes will be placed into different segments inside the “barrow” structure.
AW Lymn’s land on George’s Lane just outside Calverton Village was originally granted permission to be a cemetery in August 2022, but the business resubmitted its planning application for one closed and two open barrows late last year.
After initial concerns from council officers and changes to the design of the mounds, the application was approved by Gedling Borough Council’s planning committee on March 27.
Pete Clarson, commercial director at AW Lymn, said: “When it comes to saying a final goodbye, we recognise that this doesn’t always look the same for everyone. Having a variety of options to choose from to suit your personal needs, preferences and wishes is so incredibly important.
“The barrows, however, are more than a place for ashes to be laid to rest. It’s a place where recently bereaved can go to understand their grief, accept their loss, and celebrate a life.”
The “natural-looking” barrows are designed with niches for cremated remains, providing a “peaceful setting for a service and final resting place”, according to AW Lymn.
The undertakers added they would be “soon be offering a very unique and timeless memorial option” by working in partnership with the world’s only barrow design and construction business, Sacred Stones Limited.
Toby Angel, managing director of Sacred Stones, said: “We’ve been working on the barrow scheme with AW Lymn for some time now and we are honoured to be partnering with a family business that, like barrows, has and will continue to stand the test of time.”
The Calverton cemetery is AW Lymn’s first company-owned burial site and barrows scheme.
The company said the new site formed part of its plan to expand across the region, with a total of 27 funeral homes throughout Nottinghamshire and South Derbyshire.